Tuesday, April 20, 2010

GAY ELLEN BROWN'S TESTIMONY - 4/13/10

Gay had written testimony in her hands and read it word for word on April 13th before the IL Senate Judiciary Committee. I am a witness to that since I was present at the hearing. I have permission from Gay and her husband to place it on my Blog site. I respect their privacy so I have not included Gay's date of birth, their home address, phone # or email address. But other than that in its entirety: April 13, 2010To the Members of the Illinois Senate Judicary Committee:My name is Gay Ellen Brown, I am a wife, mother of three daughters and grandma to Jacquline, my name sake, because I was born Jacquline Lenn Thompson on _________ in Chicago, Illinois and I am also an adoptee.I flew in from New Jersey today to make my plea to you to stop the HB5428, it is unfair and unconstitutional to all adoptees born in Illinois.My 51 year journey of self discovery of who and what I am came to a grinding halt last year because I wsas diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions which required surgeries. My surgeon felt it necessary at this point in time to test me for the BRRCA gene for breast and ovarian cancer, however, my health insurance denied coverage for this very costly test because I can't prove anyone in my immediate family has this cancer and that I am not of a high risk group such as Swedish or Hungarian, but how do I know if I am? If I do not know my own heritage. If I had my original birth certificate I would know.Growing up I always wanted to know answers to the questions every adoptee has. But today those answers could save my life or give me a better quality of life. I am also a birth mother who CHOSE to keep my daughters and I can't even protect them from possible inherited conditions that I may be passing down to them.The discrimination we endure as adoptees must stop now, and our basic civil and human rights must be restored. Our original birth certificates belong to us and not to the state of Illinois.Thank you for your time and consideration into this matter.

5 comments:

Yes, it is a civil rights issue. The bill has been fast-tracked and legislative action kept as secret as possible. The situation in IL is NOT good and if the bill becomes law, it is bound to affect other states with closed records to date.

Mary,Thanks for publishing Gaye Brown’s testimony. I think I heard her being interviewed on the radio on the day of the hearing. That’s really good because it draws interest to our cause. Oh how I wish we could get through to our legislators that being adopted brings unexpected consequences all through our lifetimes.

I am opposed to HB 5428. I worry and pray for people like Gaye. What if her birth mother signs a Denial Form? Under HB 5428, Gaye will have to wait 5 years before she can come back for another try. When you are dealing with breast cancer, 5 years could be the difference between life and death.

Another thought: if Gaye’s original birth certificate had never been sealed in the first place, she would already have the answers to her health questions.

Thanks Mary for being at the hearing, and thank you Gaye, for coming all the way from New Jersey to testify.

Thanks for publishing Gaye Brown’s testimony. I think I heard her being interviewed on the radio on the day of the hearing. That’s really good because it draws interest to our cause. Oh how I wish we could get through to our legislators that being adopted brings unexpected consequences all through our lifetimes.

I am opposed to HB 5428. I worry and pray for people like Gaye. What if her birth mother signs a Denial Form? Under HB 5428, Gaye will have to wait 5 years before she can come back for another try. When you are dealing with breast cancer, 5 years could be the difference between life and death.

Another thought: if Gaye’s original birth certificate had never been sealed in the first place, she would already have the answers to her health questions.

Thanks Mary for being at the hearing, and thank you Gaye, for coming all the way from New Jersey to testify.

A local radio station aired a clip from what was shown on WCIA3 after Gay and I were interviewed.

Our legislators don't care that some with serious health issues might have to wait 5 years. And how many more years would money be paid to CI's, only to not learn a thing about birth family medical history. What birth mothers submitted years ago might not mean much today. A person's health can change within days after completing forms. My own birth maternal grandfather died eight months after I was born and I have one of the health conditions today that contributed to his death.

Welcome to My Blog

For over 30 years now I've been an advocate for open records. I had a good adoptive home. My father was killed in a freak accident when I was two years old. But my mother remarried and my step-father treated me as if I were his biological daughter. In 1997 the search for my birth family was completed. My birth parents died during my 20 plus year search. I've had a great reunion with siblings and other birth relatives. I want other searching adoptees to complete their searches. Open records laws in all states would make the task easier. Over the years I've conversed with many triad members and the majority have wanted laws so that all adoptees can request and receive their original birth certificate.

About Me

During a 20+ year search for my birth mother, I provided the AdopTriad BBS. I was the founder of Insight to The Adoption Triad, a search and support group in OH (Columbus and Delaware areas). For many years I helped numerous adoptees and birth parents throughout the U.S. with their searches and provided support during and afterwards. Although I'm not as active today I am the list owner for FamAdopt (Yahoo eGroups)and continue to offer advice and provide support. I'm currently writing a book about my own search and reunion since I do feel that it will be inspiring to many. This blog was started because I do feel the violation of the rights of adoptees needs to be more widely known in the hope that it will lead legislators to opening records in the majority of the states that still have closed records. ALL adoptees deserve their original birth certificate, just as those not personally touched by adoption obtain their OBC with no questions asked and are not denied this link to their heritage.